United Congregational Church of Southern Africa

Classification| Protestant
Theology| Congregationalist (Reformed)
Associations| World Communion of Reformed Churches
Region| South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia
Headquarters| 10, 7th Avenue, Edenvale,Johannesburg, South Africa.
Congregations| 400
Members| ~1 000 000+
Official website| www.uccsadenomination.org.za

The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) is a prominent Christian denomination established in 1967, following the unification of various congregational movements within Southern Africa. Its origins can be traced back to the missionary work of the London Missionary Society in the Cape Colony in 1799. The UCCSA plays a significant role in the religious landscape of Southern Africa, with a membership of approximately 1 000 000.[1] It maintains a notable presence in countries such as South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The UCCSA is recognized for its contributions to education and social justice in the region.

## History

[edit]

The UCCSA has its roots in the early missionary efforts of the London Missionary Society (LMS). The LMS initiated its work in the Cape Colony in 1799, led by missionaries like Dr. Theodorus van der Kemp. The first Congregational church in Cape Town was established by them in 1801. Notable LMS missionaries, including David Livingstone, extended their evangelical efforts among the Tswana and Amandbele peoples.

Post-1820, English and Welsh settlers formed their own congregational congregations. Further expansion occurred with the arrival of missionaries from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in 1830 in KwaZulu-Natal. The congregations formed by white settlers eventually led to the creation of the Congregational Union of South Africa. These various missionary and congregational movements culminated in the unification of the three bodies to form the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa in 1967.

## Membership and influence

[edit]

The UCCSA boasts a significant membership, with over 1 000 000 members across 400 local congregations as of 2024. This denomination is also a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.[2]

## Regional influence

[edit]

### Mozambique

[edit]

In Mozambique, the UCCSA operates under the Portuguese name Igreja Congregacional Unida do Africa do Sul, with the central office located in Maputo.[3] The Mozambique Synod traces its origins back to the first evangelist, Rev. Edwin Richards, sent in 1880 by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Despite a period of transition where Richards and many members joined the Methodist church, a portion retained their congregational heritage. Currently, the church in Mozambique has 13,400 members in 27 congregations, primarily located in Inhambane, Gaza Province, and Maputo. The official languages used are Portuguese, Xitxe, Tsonga, and Tyopi.[4]

### Botswana

[edit]

In Botswana, the UCCSA has 51 congregations and over 20,300 members. The denomination is a member of the Botswana Council of Churches.[5]

### Zimbabwe

[edit]

The UCCSA in Zimbabwe operates several schools and, as of 1995, had 160 congregations..[6]

### Namibia

[edit]

The Namibia Regional Council of the UCCSA, formed in 1982, consists of 3,000 members across 7 congregations located in Duineveld, Rehoboth, Karlfeld, Windhoek, Luderitz, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Grootfrontein. The establishment of these congregations dates back to 1933 when congregational people began moving to Namibia.[7]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Over 200 years of seeking Justice". Archived from the original on 2013-07-25. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
2. ^ [1] Archived August 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
3. ^ "Mozambique Synod - United Congregational Church of Southern Africa". Globalministries.org. Archived from the original on 2015-07-23. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
4. ^ "Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions". Reformiert-online.net. 2004-02-27. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
5. ^ "Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions". Reformiert-online.net. 2003-01-27. Archived from the original on 2015-07-23. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
6. ^ "Reformed Churches » Religion in Zimbabwe". Relzim.org. 11 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2015-06-25. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
7. ^ "Address data base of Reformed churches and institutions". Reformiert-online.net. 2004-02-27. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-07-22.

## External links

[edit]

* UCCSA website

* v
* t
* e

Christianity in South Africa

African-initiated
churches|

* Nazareth Baptist Church
* Zion Christian Church
* Zionist churches

Catholic|

* Roman Catholic Church

Eastern Orthodox|

* Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria

Oriental Orthodox|

* Coptic Holy Diocese of South Africa

Protestant|

| Anglican|

* Anglican Church of Southern Africa
* Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africaa
* Province of Southern Africaa

|

Calvinist|

| Continental
Reformed|

* Afrikaans Protestant Church
* Christian Reformed Church in South Africa
* Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa
* NGK
* NHK
* Reformed Churches in South Africa
* Free Reformed Churches of South Africa
* Reformed Church in Africa
* Uniting Reformed Church

|

Presbyterian|

* Evangelical Presbyterian Church
* Free Church in Southern Africa
* People's Church of Africa
* Presbyterian Church of Africa
* Uniting Presbyterian Church

Congregationalist|

* United Congregational Church

Pentecostal|

* Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa
* Assemblies of God of South Africa
* South Africa International Assemblies of God
* Grace Bible Church

Other|

* Baptist Union of Southern Africa
* Die Heilsleër
* Evangelical Lutheran Church
* Methodist Church

Restorationist|

| Irvingian|

* Apostolic Church of South Africa
* New Apostolic Church

|

Mormon|

* The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South Africa

Interdenominational
organisations|

* The Evangelical Alliance of South Africa
* South African Council of Churches

a Outside the Anglican Communion.

* v
* t
* e

Religion in South Africa

Religions|

| Christianity|

* Afrikaans Protestant Church
* Afrikaner Calvinism
* Anglican Church
* Apostolic Faith Mission
* Baptist Union
* Catholic Church
* Christian Reformed Church
* Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* Dutch Reformed Church
* NGK
* NHK
* GKSA
* Evangelical Lutheran Church
* Evangelical Presbyterian Church
* Free Church
* Free Reformed Churches
* Methodist Church
* Nazareth Baptist Church
* New Apostolic Church
* Presbyterian Church of Africa
* Protestantism
* Reformed Church in Africa
* Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church
* United Congregational Church
* Uniting Presbyterian Church
* Uniting Reformed Church
* Zion Christian Church
* Zionist Churches
* People's Church of Africa
* The Church of Almighty God

|

Other|

* African Traditional Belief
* San religion
* Zulu religion
* Baháʼí Faith
* Buddhism
* Hinduism
* Irreligion
* Islam
* Shia
* Judaism
* Paganism

Flag of South Africa

Related|

* Freedom of religion
* SAHRC
* CRL Rights Commission
* Equality Act, 2000
* Marriage Act, 1961
* Witchcraft Suppression Act, 1957
* Traditional healers
* SACC
* NICSA
* Public holidays
* Satanic panic

Category

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States

Other|

* Yale LUX

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template